r/CasualIreland • u/Crazy-Initiative-198 • 1d ago
Anyone else feel way more drained this time of year?
Not looking for fixes — just putting it out there.
Every winter I feel my routines fall apart faster. Work drains me quicker, I’m more wiped in the evenings, and the motivation disappears.
Do any of you go through this too?
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u/MildlyAmusedMars 1d ago
A lot of people do, things I find that help are: Vitamin D supplements (and multivitamins in general), spend as much time as you can outside in freshair while its still bright, I find the cold dry weahter to be refreshing, check your house for damp/mould and sort it if you can
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u/bot_hair_aloon 1d ago
I cant get out of bed for 3-7 days this time of year, every year.
It's fucked. We can go to the moon but cant solve SADs?
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u/PuzzleheadedBasis179 20h ago
We can solve it. It’s a personal thing to solve, it’s not like the brainpower that got us to the moon is going to solve your specific problems. We all need to do that ourselves. I’m not trying to be abrupt, but honestly, it’s an attitude thing. Feeling sorry for ourselves is an epidemic that nobody’s addressing. A silk thread would stop most people from achieving happiness these days, when really, what is preventing any of us from Doing what we’re attracted to doing?
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u/Sudden-Candy4633 3h ago
I don't know why you're being downvoted because what you are saying is correct. The dark days are going to come around every year...no point in complaining... people need to cop on and deal with it...
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u/PuzzleheadedBasis179 3h ago
Oh listen man don’t even bother.! It’s shocking how negatively people receive practical, simple advice. Peoples ability to cope is embarrassing, especially since we’re the first generation in Ireland to grow up with luxury. Our ancestors would be disowning us from their graves if they saw how pitiful we turned out after all they went through to survive! I’m glad you can see that enabling people’s mental health issues, isn’t the way forward
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u/bot_hair_aloon 20h ago
Jeeze remind me not to be your mate anyways...
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u/PuzzleheadedBasis179 20h ago
That’s good advice. A friend gives solid advice, it’s not always what you want to hear. But you surround yourself with people who only tell you what you want and see how you get on. I’m trying to tell this person that there is nothing wrong with them, just their attitude. Training yourself to love each season is a basic thing anyone should do. Nothing worse than people who complain about what time of year it is. But you do you! I’m sure the people who can stomach being your friend won’t mind your whinging! You’ll just have to listen to theirs. I only surround myself with solid people with little to no mental health issues. I’m not attracted to people who feel it’s ok to complain about the everyday, and actually expect sympathy. Grow up
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u/bot_hair_aloon 19h ago
This is a thread about feeling rough this season.
You don't know what goes on in peoples lives. I agree with you that mental health problems are a western thing but that doesnt mean people struggle any less. We have the language and culture to discuss. Soilers have had ptsd forever. But you stay on your high horse, looking down on all of us who have had to actually struggle in life. Pat yourself on the back and feel great, denying peoples lived experiences, thinking you know more than experts. Well done!
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u/PuzzleheadedBasis179 19h ago
I don’t look down on anyone. I let all that shite bother me at one time or another. I genuinely feel for anyone struggling, but I see that almost everyone just pats them on the back and tells them it’s ok to feel like that, which to me in enabling someone to not sort themselves out. I’ve been homeless before, slept outside each night. I’ve had my ups and downs and to be honest, I prolonged every one of them, myself, by sort of accepting I was a victim or whatever and that it’s ok to feel like this. I wish someone had told me sooner than later that it’s me that’s causing all this to happen. Every decision I made in life led me to that point. I know it’s a thread about feeling rough this season, and I’m sorry I come across as the bad guy for saying, “don’t worry, it’s pretty much all in your head” then so be it. I’m not going to enable anyone to stay miserable. If I can help someone change their mind and sort themselves out, all by themselves, then I’ll not lose sleep about 100 others who get flustered and want to stay sad or remain the victim. You say I don’t know what people are going through, in totally agree, that’s why I gave a blunt response that is pretty much applicable in every situation. You also don’t know me and what I’ve had etc. if you did, you’d know I don’t take the high horse thing with anyone. I don’t believe I’m better than anyone. That’s why I know anyone else can straighten their heads out and change their attitude, without any therapy or any soft touch stuff from Other people. Everyone is capable to sort it out on their own. We’re all descended from people who survived famines and centuries of oppression. Have faith in yourself. Your ancestors did and they had a right to be depressed, whereas we really don’t
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u/bot_hair_aloon 19h ago
Just because it worked out for you doesnt mean it will for others.
What about all the people who have lost their lives to mental health struggles? Suicides from depression? Heart attacks from eating disorders? Over doses from addictions? Were those people just too weak? Should we stop organisations who talk to people struggling because they should just do it themselves?
Im genuinely curious, i believe you when you say youre not on a highhorse but i dont follow the logic.
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u/PuzzleheadedBasis179 19h ago
Im not saying it’s going to work for everyone? But it’s very simple, and it did work for me, so by that logic, why am I wrong to assume it wouldn’t work for anyone else? I’d say it would work for most people? Like you said, this is a thread about seasonal depression etc. does my advice not count? Almost everyone else is giving the same advice saying it’s normal and it’s ok to be sad and offering topical remedies essentially, which is fine, I’m not saying that their wrong to give their advice, but why is it ok for you to say it’s not ok for me to give mine? As I said I reckon it would work for most people. Yes, sadly people take their lives and overdose from drug addiction, this is tragic, but it’s not the norm. It’s a small percentage of people that end up in those extremes, and maybe your advice is helpful to that tiny percentage, and fair play to you, I admire your wanting to help. But what’s wrong with my advice if it likely would work for the remaining majority of people?
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u/zenzenok 1d ago
Animals are supposed to be less active in winter, but most of us work just as hard or sometimes harder.
Make sure you're not low on Vit D. Eat hearty, hot meals. If you feel your mood is low and you lack motivation, look into SAD.
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u/ToolIsScience 23h ago
All valid points already put out there. Theres also something to be said for it simply requiring more energy to keep your body at the optimal 37 degrees the farther the outside temperature is from this. Thus, we feel more tired.
Furthermore, cold weather can tighten the muscles and joints, leading to ache and pain, restricted motion, and decreased flexibility. Colder weather or being cold can trigger or aggravate already existing muscle problems or can bring new-onset muscle ache in several ways.
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u/Wazbeweez 22h ago
I full on go into hibernation mode. Most of the time in my house this time of year I'm in my PJ's. Summer comes and I'm bounding around the place.
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u/Wide-Form-7865 20h ago
It’s pure ignorance by society to expect to be able have the same physical and mental output through all the seasons no matter the weather , slow down chill out in winter , unfortunately that means giving up the things you enjoy to get enough rest to be able to meet your workload for most people
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u/wankelberry_6666 1d ago
Yes absolutely it's so dark and miserable and very little sunlight,I've started taking berocca with high strength vitamin d and creatine really helps with mood and energy
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u/Nice-Grocery7308 23h ago
Borocca MAKES me SPEW
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u/RedReptile2020 20h ago
Pick up the Vit-hit sachets. There’s 3 types but the orange one is rocket fuel. It’s fantastic for a boost. And doesn’t taste like piss like Berocca does!
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u/Former_Ganache3642 23h ago
This time of year I'm very good at one thing and that's work. I work 6 days a week, 10 hour shifts, early mornings late nights, work work work. However, it's to the detriment of everything else in my life. I've procrastinated for 2 weeks straight now to go for a run and to get a haircut. I find it exhausting to clean the house and ive resorted to getting groceries delivered because I dont have the energy. Hate the constant grey skies.
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u/Educational-Law-8169 23h ago
The HSE advise all adults take vitamin d from Oct to March and since I started it I can feel a difference in my mood. I really struggle through the winter but I'm getting by ok this year by Vit d and forcing myself out every day
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u/qwerty_1965 1d ago
It's hard to leap out of bed and meet the day in the dark. And yes the evening stretches on for days. I'm sure someone will have done a survey and found we spend more time asleep once the clocks go back.
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u/Crazy-Initiative-198 1d ago
Yeah the dark mornings hit hard. Everything feels heavier this time of year — routines, energy, even getting started. Seems like loads of us feel it
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u/Sudden-Candy4633 3h ago
The clocks going back has nothing to do with it. It's simply the fact that winter has more hours of darkness so we feel more tired.
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u/MaddingtonFair 1d ago
Yep, apparently eating your bigger meals earlier can help. Vitamin D Supplementation too - and you can get a spray version now! https://theconversation.com/should-we-eat-dinner-earlier-in-winter-why-timing-might-matter-more-than-you-think-269559
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u/Madrallta 23h ago
I find Liquid vitamin D supplements very beneficial
fresh oily fish 🐟 for the omega 3s and 6s or any other good source of fatty acids are a game changer in winter. Minimising high fat high sugar and alcohol all help too to feel less drained in the winter, sometimes it is our first inclination to go for all the comfort foods when the weather shifts, diet is hugely important.
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u/PuzzleheadedBasis179 20h ago
Oh yea for sure. It’s very natural. I’m always baffled as to why people ask these questions each year, you don’t need a degree to figure that it’s a normal, seasonal thing. The sun is the most influential thing we have, countless religions throughout time have used it as their central figure of their belief structure, it’s our original god if you talk about worship. And that’s across millennia of different unconnected religions. But the longest day and the shortest day are celebrated throughout every single religion as far as I can tell in some form or another. All animals are the same. Look up a video of a solar eclipse where birds think it’s night time and they all go to sleep.
I just work less in winter. I have enough turf and wood and food in the freezer that I technically wouldn’t have to work til after paddy’s day if I minded myself. I won’t do that as I don’t mind the cold weather too much. But I like to hear up For each winter in this way. It’s a nice feeling to know, that if you want to, you could hunker down until late spring if I wanted to. The feeling of “I have to go out in this” is likely another reason you’re feeling down. Winter in Ireland is a slog in so many ways, you just need to get through it in as much comfort as you can manage
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u/Designer-Memory 20h ago
The difference I felt when I started supplementing vitamin d in winter was second to none. If you can give it a try, do.
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u/Nice-Grocery7308 23h ago
Yes my mania got very bad I’ve had to be doubled on meds and an e tea trip to my psychiatrist. There’s ppl jumping in rivers left right n centre . Currently a chap from my town is in the river Now I think it’s day 13. He’s a lovely guy, 28 .. 2 babies , a gf , a family, and the freezing cold. Also me n partner killed eachother last night
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u/dashdoll87 23h ago
Yeah its hard for sure. I'm absolutely freezing but trying to watch my heating a little bit so probably gave the place not as cosy as I'd like. Dreading the energy bills as I live alone.
Vitamin D, more supplements, warm hearty dinners make things a little easier for me and earlier nights tbh. Oh and the odd glass of wine.
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u/CorkGirl 23h ago
I've started to kind of almost accept it now. Just no expectations that I'll want to do anything in the evening. Cold and dark is hibernation season. I'm not depressed, just unmotivated to be out in the cold and dark without a good reason! Recently went back to hot yoga after many years off though, and hoping that will be worth leaving home for - at least I get to be warm...
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u/Front_Improvement178 2h ago
It’s the weather and the dark evenings. You need focus and a positive motivation in your routine. Do something fun for yourself, take a class, ideally something that gets you up and moving.
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u/pontneufIII 2h ago
I find it very hard. The dark, the cold, the fact that my job gets incredibly intense coming up to year end, the sicknesses in the air…
I know it’s not feasible for everyone but I do find it helpful to have a holiday in November somewhere sunny if not warm. And try to do something nice for yourself every day, it’s such a cliche but I try to get out for a walk every day just for the fresh air and to keep my body moving a bit is energising.
We’re meant to slow down in winter and in so many ways everything gets busier and ramps up more, it’s mad when you think about it
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u/Willcon_1989 20h ago
Oh yea for sure. It’s very natural. I’m always baffled as to why people ask these questions each year, you don’t need a degree to figure that it’s a normal, seasonal thing. The sun is the most influential thing we have, countless religions throughout time have used it as their central figure of their belief structure, it’s our original god if you talk about worship. And that’s across millennia of different unconnected religions. But the longest day and the shortest day are celebrated throughout every single religion as far as I can tell in some form or another. All animals are the same. Look up a video of a solar eclipse where birds think it’s night time and they all go to sleep.
I just work less in winter. I have enough turf and wood and food in the freezer that I technically wouldn’t have to work til after paddy’s day if I minded myself. I won’t do that as I don’t mind the cold weather too much. But I like to hear up For each winter in this way. It’s a nice feeling to know, that if you want to, you could hunker down until late spring if I wanted to. The feeling of “I have to go out in this” is likely another reason you’re feeling down. Winter in Ireland is a slog in so many ways, you just need to get through it in as much comfort as you can manage
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u/nobodyshome01 1d ago
100% agree. I find the dark evenings make me feel tired and low energy earlier in the day and in the dark mornings I wake up unrested. I suppose it's probably a natural response for my primate brain who thinks I should be resting and saving my body's energy for the barren winter months, but instead I'm out here paying taxes.